Line coupling for railway vehicles

ABSTRACT

An automatic line coupler is centrally located in a bumper for a railway vehicle and has an intermediate element which is fixed on a coupler head. One end of a flexible line is rigidly secured to the intermediate element and a spring-loaded coupler element has its rear end mounted within a resilient deformable annular member closely fitted within the intermediate element.

United States Patent Schelle et al.

1451 Dec. 19,1972

1541 LINE COUPLING FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES [72] Inventors: Axel Schelle, Rottach-Scherfen; Pierre Baronnet, Munich, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Know-Bremse KG, Berlin and n sh m n [22] Filed: .luly29, 1970 21] App]. No.: 59,182

[52] US, Cl. ..2I3/76 [51] Int. Cl ..B6lg 5/08 [58] Field of Search ..213/1 R, 1.3, 76; 137/349;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,716 5/1912 Smith ..213/76 833,702 10/1906 Tomlinson ..2l3/76 882,017 3/1908 Pulliam .137/349 969,276 9/1910 Harris ..213/76 980,135 12/1910 Sullivan ..137/349 Primary ExaminerDrayton E. Hoffman Attorney-Edmund M. Jaskiewicz [57] ABSTRACT An automatic line coupler is centrally located in a bumper for a railway vehicle and has an intermediate element which is fixed on a coupler head. One end of a flexible line is rigidly secured to the intermediate element and a spring-loaded coupler element has its rear end mounted within a resilient deformable annular member closely fitted within the intermediate element.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEU DEC 19 1972 INVENTORS A XEL SCHELLE LINE COUPLING FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES Railway vehicles having bumpers or buffers have been provided with line couplers centrally located in the buffers. The line couplers function to connect the air lines between railway vehicles which are coupled together. The line couplers are preferably constructed to facilitate the automatic connecting of the lines when a coupler element on one railway vehicle engages a mating coupler element on another railway vehicle. One such form of line coupler comprised an intermediate coupling element mounted for rotation about a transverse axis or rigidly secured on a coupling head of the railway vehicle bumper. A second coupling element has its rear portion mounted within the intermediate coupling element for pivotal movement about a transverse axis. Such a coupling construction has not been particularly satisfactory since the pivotal mountings required almost continuous maintenance, were subject to relatively rapid wear, and were sensitive to impacts occuring during coupling of railway vehicles. A further disadvantage was that any flexing of the flexible line connecting to the coupling produced forces which moved the coupling element from its normal central position. The resulting off-central position of the coupling element introduced difficulties in coupling of the lines since the engaging coupling elements were not in proper alignment.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved line coupling for railway vehicles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a line coupling for railway vehicles which requires a minimum of maintenance, is subjected to a minimum of wear and is insensitive to impacts occurring during operation of the railway vehicles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a line coupling which remains in a central position in a bumper on a railway vehicle in which it is mounted.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a line coupling for railway vehicles wherein the position of the coupling elements is not affected by any forces occurring in the flexible line connected to the coupling element.

According to the present invention there is provided an automatic line coupling for railway vehicles which essentially comprises a coupling head and an intermediate coupling element mounted on the coupling head. Resilient deformable annular means is secured within the intermediate coupling element and a springloaded coupling element has its rear portion secured within the resilient annular means so as to be pivotally mounted'with respect to the intermediate coupling element. A flexible line leading to the air line system on the railway vehicle has one end rigidly connected to the intermediate coupling element so that any forces produced by flexing of the flexible line are transmitted through the intermediate coupling to the coupling head and not to the spring-loaded coupling element. The resilient deformable means may comprise an annular member having its inner and outer annular surfaces bonded to the intermediate and spring-loaded'coupling elements respectively by a suitable process, such as vulcanization.

In a modification of the coupling the flexible line has its end extending into the intermediate coupling element but is rigidly connected to the outer portion of this element. The spring-loaded coupling element is then mounted within the free end of the flexible line to provide a pivotal connection but one which is unaffected by forces occurring in the flexible line.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, which are exemplary, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a line coupling according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing a modification thereof.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views a specific embodiment and modification of the present invention will be described in detail.

. As may be seen in FIG. 1, a coupling head within a middle bumper or buffer on a railway vehicle is designated by the dot-dash lines indicated at 1. An intermediate coupling element 3 has oppositely extending flanges 5 which are fixedly secured to the coupling head 1. A flexible line 7 which leads to the air line system on the railway vehicle is rigidly secured to the end of the intermediate coupling element 3 by means of an annular fastener ring 6 or some other suitable fastener.

A spring-loaded coupling element 2 which has a component telescopingly mounted thereon for longitudinal movement has its rear end mounted within the intermediate coupling element 3 by means of a resilient deformable ring 4. The outer annular surface of the resilient ring 4 is closely fitted within the intermediate coupling element 3 and the inner annular surface of the ring 4 is closely fitted around the peripheral surface of the rear end of the coupling element 2. These annular surfaces may be suitably bonded to the respective surfaces of the intermediate coupling element 3 and coupling element 2, such as by vulcanization.

Any tension or flexing forces occuring in the flexible line 7 are now transmitted through the intermediate coupling element 3 to the coupling head 1 and do not affect the positioning of the coupling element 2 within the coupling head 1. As result, the coupling element 2 is maintained in a central position at all times unaffected by any tension forces occurring in the flexible line 7. The annular ring 4 will permit the coupling element 2 to pivot with respect to the intermediate coupling element 3 but will retain the element 2 in its central position as shown in the drawing.

The radius of theintermediate element 3 can be made greater than the radius of the coupling element 2 to facilitate the removal of the coupling element 2 by withdrawing the element 2 from its connection with the intermediate element 3. The intermediate element 3 is preferably detachably mounted on the coupling head 1 but is fixedly secured in position when mounted thereon.

The line coupling can also be connected by means of a known resetting device whereby the resetting occurs separately such as by corresponding diagonal surfaces between the drive and the line coupling casing.

A modification of the above described line coupling is illustrated in FIG. 2 and provides for the flexible line 7 to have its end extending freely into the intermediate l060ll 0201 coupling element 3 but rigidly secured to the rear portion of the element 3 by means of an annular fastening ring 6'. Thus, the line 7 is rigidly secured to the intermediate coupling element-3 but its inner end projects freely therein. In this manner, any forces occuring in the flexible line are absorbed at the rear portion of the intermediate coupling element and are not transmitted to the free 'end of the line. The rear end of the springloaded coupling element 2 is mounted within the free end of the line 7. The flexibility of this free end of the line 7 provides a flexible and pivotable mounting of the coupling element 2 but centrally positions the coupling element 2 within the coupling head 1.

The fastener element 6 can be loosened or removed with respect to the intermediate coupling element 3 to permit the rearward movement of the flexible line 2 with respect to the element 3.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention has disclosed a simple yet effective structure for a line coupling positioned in a bumper of a railway vehicle. A coupling element is pivotably mounted within the coupling head but is centrally located at all times to facilitate the coupling operation. The absence of moving parts permits long periods of maintenance-free operation and considerably reduces wear. The position of the coupling element is not affected by any forces occuring in the flexible line since these forces are absorbed through an intermediate coupling element and transmitted to the coupling head.

It is understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within the invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic line coupling for railway vehicles, the combination of a coupling head, an intermediate coupling element mounted rigidly on said coupling head, resilient deformable annular means within said intermediate coupling element, a couplingv element having its rear portion pivotally mounted in said resilient annular means so, as to be pivotable with respect to said intermediate coupling element, and a flexible line leading to the airline system on the railway vehicle and having its end rigidly connected to said intermediate coupling element so that any forces produced in the flexible line are transmitted through said intermediate :element 'to thecoupling head. i v

2. In an automatic line coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible line is connected to said intermediate coupling element behind the inner end of said spring-loaded coupling element.

3. In an automatic line coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidv coupling elements and said flexible line are tubular, said resilient annular means comprising a ring having its outer annular surface closely fitted I within said intermediate coupling element and its innerv annular surface closely fitted around said spring-loaded coupling element, said resilient annular ring is bonded to said intermediate and spring-loaded coupling elements.

4. In an automatic line coupling as claimed in claim 3 w rein said bondin comprises vulca izatio r.

. In an automatic me coup mg as c aime in claim 1 spring-loaded 

1. In an automatic line coupling for railway vehicles, the combination of a coupling head, an intermediate coupling element mounted rigidly on said coupling head, resilient deformable annular means within said intermediate coupling element, a spring-loaded coupling element having its rear portion pivotally mounted in said resilient annular means so as to be pivotable with respect to said intermediate coupling element, and a flexible line leading to the air line system on the railway vehicle and having its end rigidly connected to said intermediate coupling element so that any forces produced in the flexible line are transmitted through said intermediate element to the coupling head.
 2. In an automatic line coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible line is connected to said intermediate coupling element behind the inner end of said spring-loaded coupling element.
 3. In an automatic line coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coupling elements and said flexible line are tubular, said resilient annular means comprising a ring having its outer annular surface closely fitted within said intermediate coupling element and its inner annular surface closely fitted around said spring-loaded coupling element, said resilient annular ring is bonded to said intermediate and spring-loaded coupling elements.
 4. In an automatic line coupling as claimed in claim 3 wherein said bonding comprises vulcanization.
 5. In an automatic line coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end of said flexible line extends freely into said intermediate coupling element, means on the outer end of said intermediate coupling element for rigidly securing the flexible line to said intermediate coupling element, the rear portion of said spring-loaded coupling element being mounted into the free end of said flexible line to provide a resilient connection therebetween. 